The influence of ethnological and cultural heritage on fashion is the main theme of the sixth Etnology Fest, which opened tonight in Belgrade and will last until the end of the weekend.
The international festival is dedicated to the promotion of intangible cultural heritage and the protection of cultural identities and is part of the project titled “Give (Back) Credit to Heritage Communities”, which is co-financed by the Creative Europe programme.
This year, through fashion shows, a bazaar and a panel, the participants will once again point out the importance and wealth of intangible cultural heritage, with an emphasis on restoring respect to associations that deal with traditional crafts and the attitude of contemporary designers and creative industries towards them.
On the first day of the Festival, an exclusive fashion show ‘Kulturna Moda’ (Culture Fashion) was held, where three contemporary designers who were inspired by clothing items from Romania, Great Britain and Serbia, Monica Miller and Ciara Courtney, were presented. They also participated in the residency programme in Bihor, Romania dedicated to the Romanian blouse (IA), and then in the Scottish Highlands, dedicated to the Scottish tartan.
At the opening of the festival, EU Ambassador to Serbia Emanuele Giaufret pointed out that the Creative Europe programme, which supports Ethnology Fest, is the EU’s main mechanism for strengthening cultural diversity, but also a response to the needs and challenges in the culture and creative industries sector.
“The EU values Serbia’s contribution to our common European identity and heritage and is here to support and empower all cultural actors in Serbia who share our values. United in diversity – from Sirogojno, through Scottish tartan, to Romanian blouse – let them be an inspiration for strengthening our partnership in the future”, said Ambassador Giaufret.
Andrea Tanasescu, the coordinator of this project, also emphasised the importance of Creative Europe.
“Cultural heritage today does not only mean aesthetics and the use of traditional skills and knowledge but can help us create a wonderful and healthy world,” Tanasescu said.
The patron of the festival, Tamara Vučić, emphasised that we should recognise cultural heritage as a development potential, where we combine the traditional and the modern.
“The cultural heritage of every country is the foundation of its identity and the basis for the development of modern culture.”
As an example of cooperation between contemporary designers and guardians of traditional crafts, Serbia is represented at this show by knitwear designer, Marijana Andrić, with the Sirogojno Story by me collection, which was specially made for this project.
The country in focus of this year’s festival is Morocco, represented by fashion designer Imane Belmkaddem, whose works are inspired by Moroccan traditional costumes and motifs.
Ethnology Fest is held from October 7 to 9.
